Reflex camera



Aug. 12, 1941. K, NUCHTERLEIN 2,252,640

v REFLEX CAMERA Y Filed Jan. 25, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1' HG. Z.'

Aug 12, 1941- K. NUCHTE'RLEIN E 2,252,640

REFLEX CAMERA Filed Jan. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 1.2, 1941 I y REFLEX CAMERA Karl Nchterlein, Dresden, Germany Application January 23,

In Germany July The present invention relates to improvements in reflexA cameras and particularly tomeans for interchanging and attaching different types of focusing hoods to the camera. The invention contemplates the combination with a camera body having special attaching members, of two, three, or more detachable focusing hoods each of which is fashioned with attaching means complementary to the attaching means of the camera, together with a readily releasable locking device 1940, Serial No. 315,261

co-aoting with the complementary attachingY members of the hood and the camera body.

As is well known in the art of photography, the pictures to be taken by the camera are viewed and focused in various ways, and under various iight conditions to produce the clearest images on the focusing screen, and. the best results in the final picture. In some instances the photographer holds his camera in position so that he looks down upon a horizontal lnder-lens in one hood; in another hood the finder-lens is held up in front of the face so that one eye is employed to look into a finder-lens that is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera; and other hoods are provided with light measuring and indicating devices. As an example oi the utility of the present invention three hoods `of the above indicated type are interchangeable for use with a single camera, thus enabling the photographer to accomplish with a single camera the same results that would otherwise require the services of three cameras.

For convenience of illustration two different types of hoods are herein disclosed, one a foldable hood, and the other a non-folding hood.

The invention is particularly adapted for use with a roll-film, focal shutter, reex camera, in which the shutter, comprising two automatically operating curtains, is located in front of the film, and both the lm and shutter are advanced through a dark chamber at the rear of a light chamber.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of means whereby such focusing hoods asr heretofore referred to, may with facility and convenience be attached to and detached from the camera body. and means are employed for securely locking the selected hood in focusing position on the camera. Thus by interchanging the hoods, one and the same camera may be con verted and employed for various purposes, thereby broadening and extending the functions of a single camera, in camems.

In the accompanying drawings one coml'tte lieu of the use of two or more example of the physical embodiment oi the invention, together with a slightly modified form, is illustrated, but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in these exemplifying drawings, within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure l is a central, vertical, sectional view of a conventionaiized reflex camera having a vfoldable focusing hood mounted thereon by means of an attaching frame, the hood being in operative position, and the dot and dash lines showing the angles of incidence and reflection.

Figure 2 is a view similar-to Figure i, but mow ing a non-foidable focusing hood forming part of the attaching frame that is fastened to the specially constructed top portion ci the camera body or light chamber,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail, side view or the slide bolt or fiat bar employed for locking the hood on the camera, which locking bar or boit is permanently mounted on the top of the camera body, for zo-action with the interchangeable hoods.

Figure 4 is a front view of the non-folding focusing hood of Figure 2, looking to the left, and showing the locking bar in dotted lines in engagement with both the hood and the camera.

Figure 5 is a detached, sectionalfview of the attaching frame for the folding hood.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the structure at the top of the camera which is complel mentary to the frame of Y Figure 'l is a top plan view of the camera show- Flgure 5.

ing the lock bolt mounted therein.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating one method of fastening the lock bar to the camera body, as shown in Figure 2.

In order to illustrate the general assembly and relation of parts, Figures l and 2 illustrate .conventional reflex cameras, one equipped with a Ioldable focusing hood, and the other equipped with a non-raiding hood, the two lhoods being interchangeable for use on the cameras. In each. of these figures of drawing the body i of the camera forms a light chamber graphic lens 3 is mounted at the front of the camera. At the rear of the camera in a dark chamber the are arranged back of the aperture 6, and an automatic operating reflecting mirror 'I is mounted in the light chamber and hinged at 8, so that it may be swung from focusing position as shown.

2, and the photo rcllnlm 4, and the focal shutter E In Figure l the ground glass plate 9 used as a focusing screen is mounted in an attaching frame lo of rectangular shape, and the i'oldable iocusing hood mounted thereon has its four plates hinged thereto as at I l. The hinged front coverplate l2 of the hood is flanged, and folds down to cover the hack plate i3 and the two side plates ld. The plate i5, which is hinged on the same axis as the cover plate, is provided with a magniiying glass or finder lens I6 and shown in position for focusing the image on the underside or" the ground 'glass screen S. As indicated by the curved dotted lines the plate l5 is swung upwardly from focusing position so that the setting of the nder lens kiti fits into an opening l'l oi the cover plate, before the hack and side plates are closed, and then the cover plate i2 with the plate l5 is turned down to close the hood. Suitable hinge springs are employed to automatically open or unfold the hood, after the cover plate i2 has been released, as by a spring catch, but as these parts do not .form essential parts of the present invention they are not here illustrated.

lin Figure 2 a non-folding type of hood is illustrated as a whole by the numeral i8, and one eye is used with. the magnifying glass o1 under lens ltin focusing. This hood has a reflecting mirror to for cri-operation with the ground glass plate or focusing screen 2i, which es shown is mounted in the top of the carriera to receive the image from the hinged mirror i in the light chamber 2. in this type of hood, in lieu or" the frame lll oi Figure l, the side walls, the front wall 22, and the rear wall 23 of the hood form the attaching frame for mounting the removable hood on the body of the camera.

Thus m Figures l and 2 two forms of attaching frames ill and 22-23 are employed 'oy means of which thetwo different hoods (and other` interchangeable hoods) may be selectively attached to the same camera.

.For adapting the camera for this interchangeable use of hoods, the upper central top portion of the camera is provided with a single exterior, rear ange 24 extending transversely of the optical axis of the camera, and this flange is provided with two rearwardly extending, Y spaced plus 25.

itt the front of the camera and parallel with the rear flange are fashioned two flanges 26 and 2l which are spaced apart to form an open groove 28. As best seen in Figure 8 two threaded studs 2S are xed in the ilange 26 and they project transversely across the slot 28 into complementary transverse holes I in the iront ange 21, and each of these threaded studs is provided with a clamp nut 3| which fit into the holes and are threaded on the studs 2S.

Referring to the attaching frame I0 in Figure it will be seen that the frame has a depending rear ange 32 with transversely extending holes 33 which lit over the two pins 25 of the rear body flange 24. The front wall o! the frame Il has two parallel spaced lilanges Il and ll forming a groove 3B, and these flanges 3l, I! rest upon the complementary flanges 2t and 21 of the camera body. The two matching grooves 28 and 36 together form a slot in which a. locking slide bar 3"! is mounted for use in locking the hood on the camera. l

As best seen in Figure 3, the locking bar 27 has two longitudinally extending slots 3l near its ends to accommodate the studs 29, and an anguiar, exterior handle 39. The central portion i0 of the slide bar 3l is extended or increased in height to the full height of the slot in which the bar is located. Another longitudinally extending slot 4l is fashioned in this extension oi the bar, and the slot is provided with an open angular mouth 42 opening through the upper edge o the dat har. The mouth 42 and slot 4l are adapted to co-act with a headed pin 4I in the nature of a latch fastening, and this headed pin 43 in Figure l extends transversely of and is xed in the flanges 3l and 35; while in Figure 2 the pin 43 is xed in the front framewall 22 of the hood.

in attaching a hood on the camera the sliding lock bar is ilrst pulled out to the limit of the slots 33 and pins 2S; then the holes 33 are slipped over pins 25; the iront of the hood is then lowered to slip pin I3 through mouth 42 of the slot 4l. .After the hood is in place, the lock bar is slid to position of Figure 4 to engage pin d3 in slot 4l, and then the nuts 3i are threaded on the studs 2S against the lock bar, to hold the latter firmly in place. In detaching a hood, the nuts 3l are iirst released to free the lock bar; the har is then slid to the left in Figure 4 bringing the mouth l2 of the bar into position so that the pin I3 will pass upwardly through the mouth when the front of the hood is lifted silghtly, and with this slight lifting of the front of the hood, the rear yflange of the l. l.od is slipped ott the retaining pins 25.

Other means or devices may be employed for attaching and locking a hood on the top of ille camera, and such means or devices are included within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

Attaching means for a detachable camera hood comprising a pair of spaced pins extending from one wall of the hood and adapted to engage openings in the camera, spaced iianges on the camera forming a groove, spaced flanges on the hood forming a groove, a latching pin extending across said hood groove, a latching ,plate slidably secured in saidcamera groove and said plate hav- 111g a central upwardly extending portion formed with a bayonet slot therein adapted to co-operate with said latching pin, and means for moving the plate to pin engaging or disengaging position.

KARL NCH'I'ERLEIN. 

